Midsummer Fair 2026 saturday

Celebrate the longest days of the year at the Midsummer Fair in Museum Park Archeon!

In 2026, we will once again celebrate Midsummer together! On July 4 and 5, the entire Museum Park Archeon will be dedicated to the Midsummer Fair, an enchanting festival where history and fantasy come together. This colorful event celebrates the solstice, a moment that has been of great importance in many nature-based religions for centuries.

Visitors are immersed in a magical atmosphere filled with music, dance, and rituals. Take part in traditional Midsummer activities such as weaving a flower crown, joining a Midsummer ceremony, or singing along with cheerful folk music. Discover ancient crafts and taste the flavors of the past at the atmospheric market.

In addition to the festivities, there are spectacular performances, storytellers who bring myths to life, and workshops where you can experience the magic of Midsummer yourself. From historical re-enactments to fantasy cosplay, everyone is welcome to honor the summer sun!

Many ancient traditions come to life this weekend, all centered around the celebration of the summer solstice, the longest day of the year!

Midsummer Celebration

As early as prehistoric times, long before clocks and calendars existed, people were able to determine the day of the solstice. They did not know the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, but they observed the sun’s path across the sky each day. Every day, the sun rises and sets at a different point on the horizon, and its maximum height in the sky also changes daily. As summer approaches, the sun rises and sets further north and reaches a higher point in the sky at midday. After the summer solstice, it begins its journey back again.

In the past, solstices could be determined using objects such as stones, poles, or structures, whose shadows marked the moment of the solstice each year.

In Saxon tradition and among followers of modern nature religions such as Wicca, paganism, and witchcraft, the Litha festival is celebrated on the day of the summer solstice, June 21, as the counterpart to the winter Yule festival.

During the Midsummer Fair, tickets purchased through third parties (such as Ticketveiling, ANWB, ING, Postcode Lottery, etc.) are not valid. A surcharge applies for the Museumkaart, VriendenLoterij VIP Card, and other passes that normally grant free admission.